Most provinces failing on climate change

TORONTO – Most provinces are doing little or nothing to address climate change, says a new David Suzuki Foundation analysis of provincial climate change plans.

“Despite the urgency of reducing the threat of climate change, and the economic and environmental benefits of taking action, many provincial governments have no plan to cut greenhouse emissions,” said report author Dale Marshall, an Ottawa-based climate change policy analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation.

The Suzuki Foundation’s report, All Over the Map, looks at provincial and territorial action on climate change, compares their greenhouse gas emissions, assesses their climate change plans and evaluates their records. Although the federal government signed the Kyoto Protocol, the provinces are responsible for delivering many climate change programs on the ground.

But the Suzuki Foundation found provincial and territorial action on climate change is scattered, piecemeal and, in some cases, almost non-existent. The report shows some provinces and territories (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon) have no climate change plans at all, while others (B.C., Newfoundland, NWT) have weak and vague climate change plans. Some of the worst offenders (Saskatchewan and Alberta) have skyrocketing emissions and no plans to decrease them.

“The Canadian government has been rightly criticized for its inaction on climate change,” said Mr. Marshall. “But provinces and territories have escaped the same criticism despite considerable inaction on their part. Canada’s stalling on reducing greenhouse gas emissions has as much to do with provincial opposition and intransigence as the federal government’s lack of commitment or effectiveness.”

However, some provinces (Manitoba, Quebec, PEI) have responded to the challenge of climate change with plans and action. Manitoba’s climate change plan is the best of all the provincial and territorial plans. The province has set a goal to reduce emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol.

Other examples of provinces already using progressive policies include:

• B.C.’s long-standing commitment to protect agricultural land and stem urban sprawl
• Quebec’s commitment to decrease electricity demand and use renewable power for any additional electricity needs it might have
• PEI’s commitment to eventually have 100 per cent of the province powered by renewable energy
• Manitoba’s target for large emission reductions, which will be achieved partly by a program to train technicians in installing ground source heat pumps

“Provinces and territories should learn from one another, adopt strong policies implemented elsewhere, and put together cohesive, integrated climate change plans with firm emission reduction targets,” said Mr. Marshall. “That would signal that they are taking their global responsibility seriously.”

Read the full report, All Over the Map, in English or French.

For more information, contact:

Dale Marshall 

Report author & climate change policy analyst 

David Suzuki Foundation 

Cell: 613-302-9913   

Sarah Marchildon

Communications specialist

David Suzuki Foundation

604-732-4228, ext.237